The two are AWOL from annual Lincoln Day Dinner, which draws nearly 300 people

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island Republicans were preaching party unity last night, but held their marquee Lincoln Day Dinner event at the Vanderbilt in South Beach with two party stalwarts missing in action: City Councilmen James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore).

The lawmakers boycotted the event because of differences with party chairman John Friscia.

Oddo and Ignizio declined to comment when contacted by the Advance last night.

"I will let my previous comments speak for themselves," said Ignizio.

The lawmakers have said they received no support from Friscia during their re-election bids last year, and they've slammed Friscia for his perceived failure to build the party, recruit candidates and raise money.

The dinner drew close to 300 people and featured appearances by former Rep. Vito Fossella, gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio and state GOP chairman Edward Cox.

Fossella did not mention the party dust-up when he introduced Lazio to the crowd.

Other Republicans in the usually tight-knit party also sought to downplay the rift.

"We have another successful dinner," Friscia told the Advance.

But in speaking to the crowd, Friscia seemed to allude to the controversy when he quoted Mark Twain, saying, "Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."

Pointing to last year's electoral victories on the GOP line, Friscia mentioned Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Borough President James Molinaro, but referred to Oddo and Ignizio only as "two city councilmen."

"Obviously we're having some struggles," said Assemblyman Lou Tobacco (R-South Shore). "At the end of the day, everything is repairable. They are my friends, and our working relationship has not changed."

"They are two of our great elected officials," said state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island). "From time to time, you don't agree."

Molinari Republican Club president Robert Scamardella, who considered challenging Friscia for the party leadership, said, "My hope is that the party will unify and elect Republican candidates."

But other Republicans weren't so understanding.

"If you want to take on the leader, then take him on," said one who didn't want his name used. "Don't sit outside and throw stones."

He said that the boycott only showed disrespect to the GOP workers and volunteers who do the party's grunt work.

Borough Democratic Party chairman John Gulino, who attended the dinner at Friscia's invitation, steered clear of the GOP's problems.

"I'm just here as a guest," he said. "I'm not looking to get in the middle of anything."

Fossella, who received a standing ovation, said that Lazio would beat the odds much as New Jersey GOP Gov. Chris Christie had in winning last year.

"There is a movement across this country, a movement across Staten Island," he said. "People want those in government to be reminded that they work for them, not the other way around."

Fossella has repeatedly said he has no plans to again seek his old House seat.

Targeting ethics-scarred Democrats, Lazio said that New Yorkers "don't want to open the paper and see another scandal, another investigation."

"If you love Alan Hevesi and Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson, then you have a choice on Election Day," he said. "It's Andrew Cuomo."

He said that Cuomo, the Democratic attorney general and likely gubernatorial candidate, was afraid to say where he stands on the issues.